What 3,789 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Ford Focus RS

POWER STEERING WOULD RANDOMLY GO OUT WHEN STARTING THE CAR. AT FIRST, TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING WOULD CLEAR ERROR AND STEERING WOULD BE FINE. ONE DAY, CAR TURNED ON AND ERROR WOULDN'T CLEAR. NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. TOOK INTO DEALER TO REPAIR. REPAIR WILL COST OF $1900. NOT SURE WHY IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER POWER TRAIN WARRANTY. AND WITH THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I'VE READ ONLINE FOR 2012 FORD FOCUS POWER STEERING ISSUES, I'M REALLY SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. VERY UNSAFE!!

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AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND STARTING TO BACK OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, THE AUDIBLE NOTIFICATION CAME ON AND THE DASH BOARD DISPLAYED A MESSAGE SAYING "STEERING ASSIST FAULT". AFTER THAT THE STEERING FELT LIKE THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL

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UPON DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE TRANSMISSION OVERHEATED. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR ON A ROAD OR HIGHWAY - THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY NOT SHIFT CAUSING THE CAR TO REV UP HIGH WHILE OTHER TIMES THE CAR WILL SIMPLY REFUSE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS IS BEING PRESSED. THE TRANSMISSION WILL SHAKE, SHUDDER, AND MAKE NOISE UPON ACCELERATING AND CHANGING GEARS. WHEN AT A STOP LIGHT/STOP SIGN AND THE CAR IS AT A COMPLETE STOP - THE TRANSMISSION WILL OFTEN DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE WAS FIRMLY PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. UPON LANE CHANGES, THE TRANSMISSION WILL RANDOMLY REFUSE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR AT ALL.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE POWER STEERING FAILED TO OPERATE INTERMITTENTLY FOR UP TO FIVE SECONDS. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, WHILE TURNING, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER AND THE POWER STEERING FAILURE AND SERVICE POWER STEERING SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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MY FIRST ISSUE WITH THE VEHICLE IS A MALFUNCTIONING HORN AND FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW. THEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED ON ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. FORD REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT A MONTH. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY ALSO FIXED THE HORN. BUT THAT IS NOT THE CASE. THE HORN IS STILL NOT WORKING. I DON'T USE THE HORN MUCH, BUT I REALIZED HOW DANGEROUS NOT HAVING ONE CAN BE LAST WEEK. I HAD TO SIGNAL A VEHICLE BACKING UP INTO THE MAIN ROAD IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION. SINCE MY HORN WAS NOT WORKING, I HAD TO SWERVE. THE VEHICLE IS BACK AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN THERE FOR 3 DAYS AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT UPDATED ME ON THE STATUS OF MY VEHICLE.

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POWER STEERING GOES OUT VERY HARD TO STEER, YELLOW TROUBLE LIGHT SOME TIMES COMES ON. VERY SCARY WHEN IT HAPPENS. HAPPENS WHEN STARTING FROM STOP POSITION.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V643000 (LATCHES/ LOCKS/ LINKAGES); HOWEVER, THE PART FOR THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

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I WAS IN A FRONT IMPACT ROLLOVER ACCIDENT AND THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY RESULTING IN BACK AND NECK INJURIES. THIS WAS ON A TWO LANE COUNTRY BLACKTOP.

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PULLS TO THE RIGHT. STEERING GETS HARD TO TURN. I WAS IN ASHVILLE N.C TRAFFIC WHEN IT HAPPEN IN 3 LANES TRAFFIC FINAL WAS ABLE TO GET SIDE OF THE ROAD.SCARED HELL OUT OF ME.CALL FORD,THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A GREEN AND RED LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE'S DOWNHILL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED WITHOUT BEING ACTIVATED. THE VEHICLE REVVED AND SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. OTHER TIMES, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTART IT A FEW TIMES UNTIL IT RETURNED TO NORMAL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

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POWER ASSIST STEERING FAILED TWICE WHILE DRIVING, ONE AT LOW SPEED (15 MPH) AND AGAIN IN TRAFFIC AT (50 MPH). TURNING IGNITION OFF THAN ON RETURNS STEERING TO NORMAL. NO WARNING BEFORE FAILURE. LUCKY TO GET VEHICLE OFF TO SHOULDER OFF TO SIDE OF FREEWAY WITHOUT A COLLISION.

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MY DAUGHTER COMPLAINED THAT SHE RECEIVED A DASHBOARD WARNING AND LOST POWER STEERING A FEW TIMES- TO CONFIRM, I DROVE HER CAR FOR A WEEK AND IT HAPPENED SIX TIMES IN ONE WEEK!!! TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING! IT HAPPENED WHILE IN REVERSE, DRIVING FORWARD AND UPON STARTING. IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND IN CITY STREETS AND WHILE TURNING. I WAS NOT GOING FAST AND WAS WATCHING FOR IT. WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO THOSE WHO AREN'T WATCHING FOR IT? APPARENTLY IT IS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE AS TONS OF OTHER OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS MY CHILDS CAR (WHICH I WILL NOT LET HER DRIVE) AND I FIND IT TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE THAT FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS HUGE SAFETY ISSUE!

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NOTICE CAME UP ON DASH MONITOR "STEERING ASSIST MALFUNCTION-NEEDS ATTENTION". AFTER RE-STARTING THE CAR YOU COULD STEER IT, AND TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A "STEERING RACK" AT A COST OF $1600.00, NOT COVERED ON THE "DRIVE TRAIN" WARRANTY, EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD BY THE SALES MAN FROM A DIFFERENT DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR, THAT A NEW STEERING RACK HAD BEEN INSTALLED AT JUST OVER 3000 MILES. THE CAR NOW ONLY HAS JUST OVER 45000 MILES ON IT. NOT HAPPY! CAR WAS NOT MOVING WHEN THE INITIAL "NEEDS ATTENTION" MESSAGE APPEARED, IT WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT, AND JUST STARTED TO GO HOME FROM WORK.

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RECENTLY, ON MARCH 18, 2017 I WAS DRIVING MY CAR AGAIN ON MAJOR ROADWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE 'ENGINE LIGHT' COMES ON IN THE CAR AND THE CAR COMES TO A COMPLETE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF ME DRIVING IN WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT OUT OF MY CONTROL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND SAT WITH MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON FOR A FEW MINUTES. I RESTART THE VEHICLE IN WHICH THE 'ENGINE LIGHT' WAS STILL ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS BARELY MOVING UPON ACCELERATION. I WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO FIRESTONE COMPLETE AUTOCARE LOCATED AT 7320 ELGIN ST, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111. I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD CHECK TO SEE WHAT THE ISSUE MAY BE WITH MY VEHICLE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE APPEARED TO BE FAILING AGAIN AND THAT I SHOULD TAKE MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER DUE TO THE PAST RECALL. I DID EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS DPS6 AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. ALTHOUGH, THE TRANSMISSION IS SUPPOSED TO BE AUTOMATIC, IT ACTUALLY OPERATES AS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR DRIVES LIKE A MANUAL VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREMELY URGENT AND OPERATION OF THIS VEHICLE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DUE TO THE FACT THAT YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT MAY DO NEXT. ALSO, DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD TECHNICIANS CONTINUE TO STATE THAT THIS ISSUE IS NOT FIXABLE. AT THIS POINT, I NO LONGER WANT THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MY OPTIONS ABOUT FULL REFUND OR OPTION OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED LEMON LAW IN REGARDS TO THESE ISSUES IN WHICH THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND THOUSANDS OF OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUES WITH THE SAME VEHICLE ALONG WITH OTHER MODELS SUCH AS THE FIESTA. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRUST THAT A COMPANY WOULD SELL US A SAFE VEHICLE RATHER SUCH A HAZARDOUS ONE. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND AM LOOKING FOR AN ANSWER FOR MY ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE BEFORE THIS HAS TO PROCEED TO LEGAL ACTION.

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DRIVING ON HIGHWAY VEHICLE REPORTED - ELECTRONIC POWER-ASSISTED STEERING FAILURE. I LOST POWER STEERING. ON HIGHWAY PROBLEM WAS MANAGEABLE. IT REQUIRES MUCH MORE EFFORT TO STEER AND CONTROL CAR IN CITY.

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HAVING ISSUES WITH CAR BEING REPAIRED. DOOR HANDLE LATCH IS BROKEN AND I AM CURRENTLY USING WIRE TO ASSURE IT STAYS CLOSED. EXPERIENCING THIS FOR 5+ MONTHS NOW. SERVICE STATION WOULD NOT FIX FOR FREE AT FIRST BECAUSE AN "OFFICIAL" RECALL WAS NOT ISSUES, EVEN THOUGH THIS WAS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS CARS YEAR, ONE THAT I WAS UNAWARE OF. ONCE I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE THEY CANCELED MY INITIAL APPOINTMENT DUE TO BACKUP. THEY RESCHEDULED MY APPOINTMENT FOR JULY OF THIS YEAR. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SCENARIO AND THE MANUFACTURER IS UNWILLING TO EXPEDITE MY SERVICES. IS THERE ANY COURSE OF ACTION TO TAKE?

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ON AT LEAST FIVE OCCASIONS THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS GREATER THAN 45MPH. JUST PRIOR TO THE FAILURE A WARNING LIGHT TURNS ON. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF THEN BACK ON THE POWER STEERING RESUMES NORMAL OPERATION. FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS REPLACEMENT OF THE STEERING SYSTEM. SEEMS TO BE VERY SIMILAR TO A RECALL ISSUE ON OTHER FORD MODELS

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THE TRANSMISSION CONSTANTLY SHUDDERS, SHAKES AND GRINDS. SOMETIMES IT WON'T EVEN GO INTO GEAR. IT FEELS EXTREMELY UNSAFE.

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UPON ENGINE START, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING DOES NOT WORK. AFTER 10 SECONDS, IT WORKS FINE. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED, EXCEPT SOMETIMES WHEN IT IS COLD OUTSIDE, IT REQUIRES A FEW START/RESTART CYCLES FOR THE POWER STEERING TO START WORKING. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR THE PAST 15,000 MILES, ABOUT 10 MONTHS. NO FAULT LIGHT HAS EVER COME ON. STEERING HAS NEVER FAILED WHILE DRIVING. ONCE THE POWER STEERING COMES ON, IT STAYS ON FOR THE ENTIRE TIME THE IGNITION IS ON.

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POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT. INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS WAS ON THE FREEWAY STARTING OUR VACATION THAT IS NOW RUINED BECAUSE FORD IS CLOSED ON SUNDAY'S.

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THE ELECTRIC POWER STEERING UNIT IS DEFECTIVE. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IT BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHILE DRIVING AND MINUTES LATER AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGHWAY IT STARTED LOCKING UP WHERE IT WOULD NOT TURN. MY DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO JIGGLE IT BACK AND FORTH TO MAKE IT STEER INTO HER WORKS PARKING LOT. STEERING FAILURE LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID TO SAFELY STOP. I HAD TO TRAILER IT A MECHANIC SHOP BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT TURN. MECHANIC AND HAD TO REPLACE ENTIRE ELECTRIC STEERING RACK ($1947.74).

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I WENT TO START UP MY 2012 FORD FOCUS TO DRIVE MY SON TO SCHOOL, AND AS IT TURNED OVER I RECEIVED A MESSAGE ON MY DASHBOARD SAYING THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING ASSIST MODULE AND THAT IT NEEDED SERVICE IMMEDIATELY. I STILL HAD TO DRIVE MY SON INTO SCHOOL, SO I HAD TO DRIVE MY FOCUS IN TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER STEERING. THE CAR WAS VERY HARD TO STEER AND FORTUNATELY I MADE IT OK. LATER, WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE FOR WORK, THERE WAS NO MESSAGE AND IT HAS BEEN FINE THE REST OF THE DAY. THIS SEEMS VERY DANGEROUS TO ME. WHY IS THERE NO FIX OR RECALL ON THIS?

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD FOCUS. AFTER STOPPING AT AN INTERSECTION, THE ENGINE TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT HAD TO START THE ENGINE IN ORDER TO CONTINUE DRIVING. THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFORMED, WHICH AFFECTED THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000.

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THE POWER ASSIST FAULT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS HARD TO TURN WHEN STATIONARY AND WHEN YOU TRY TO TURN.

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STEERING FAULT LIGHT AND LOCKED STEERING WHEEL - RECURRING IN MY DRIVEWAY, UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE & FIX - WHAT IF IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY?

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